Editors' review
This is Hoyt's most economical bow of their 2011 line up. Even despite its low price tag it has many features that catch the eye of anyone from the beginner bow hunter to the seasoned veteran looking to save some money. The draw of the Pro Hawk is easy and smooth. The eccentric system is very adjustable and you can adjust the draw length without the aid of a bow press.
Finish
The bow has several finish options, most popular being Real Tree AP camouflage. But it is also available in black out (black limbs and riser), half and half (black riser with camo limbs) and max-1 camouflage. Like the finish on all of Hoyt's bows, the finish on this rig is very durable. The camouflage is crisp and the black out version is very sharp looking as well.
Riser / Limbs / Limb Pockets
The riser of the Pro Hawk is a version of the Hoyt legendary tec-lite riser but is made of cast magnesium. The magnesium riser is a tad bit heavier and bulky compared to Hoyt's machined aluminum risers. The limbs are the new ZRS 12 solid glass limbs. These limbs are a very tough and reliable even though they are a different technology than Hoyt's more top end bows. Holding these limbs into place is Hoyt's pro lock limb pocket system.
Grip
The bow is equipped with the 180 pro fit grip. This grip is slim in design and popular among Hoyt shooters, as it is hard to torque the bow with this grip. It is a one piece grip made out of a rubber material very similar to the sims limbsaver material. It helps with hand shock compared to wood grips or side plates.
Eccentric system
The Pro Hawk isn't going to win any speed contests but it is equipped with the M4 cam system which is very smooth, adjustable and hits an fps speed of 305. The eccentric system comes equipped with an adjustable module system that allows you to adjust the draw length without the aid of a bow press or extra modules. The draw length can be adjusted from 23.5 to 30 inches in half inch increments. Let off for the Hoyt Pro Hawk is 75% and has a comfortable valley. While it has a decent back wall it is definitely not as solid as its higher end big brothers. With a draw weight range of 20 to 60 pounds it will not appeal to people who like to shoot higher poundage.
Draw cycle / Shootability
The M4 cam system is not as aggressive as the higher end Hoyt bows, so it is an easy drawing bow. The bow does have some vibration when shot, considerably more than the higher end Hoyt bows. But with the installation of a good vibration dampening stabilizer, it should take care of most of the bows vibe. Overall this is a smooth drawing, good shooting bow that most anyone can afford.
ProHawk vs SuperHawk vs PowerHawk
The Pro Hawk is the last remaining hawk series bow in Hoyt's line up since the introduction of the Rampage series. It is most comparable to last year's Hoyt SuperHawk and Hoyt PowerHawk bows, having features from both. The Pro Hawk and Power Hawk share the same cams and limbs. The Pro hawk and Super hawk have near identical ibo speeds. The super hawk and power hawk both were equipped with risor shox, which is limbsaver modules in the bows riser to help dampen vibration and the new Pro Hawk is without this. The Pro Hawk however does have the new rubber pro fit grip that helps hand shock and the other hawk series bows had a wood grip.
Value for money
Whether for a beginner or someone not looking to break the bank, this is a good all around bow. Whether being used for hunting or shooting for fun, this is an economical choice.
Summary
In conclusion, the Hoyt Pro hawk isn't the quietest, most vibration free bow out there. But for value price tag, this bow could be easily affordable to almost anyone. With a draw weight range from 20 to 60 pounds this bow could easily appeal to women, children, beginners or anyone who doesn't care to shoot the heavier poundage. This bow could have less vibration but with the addition of some vibration dampening components, it would make it quieter and improve shoot ability. This is a very easy drawing bow that has a smooth draw and has a very adjustable draw length system. Overall for a beginner or a hunter on a budget, you seemingly can't go wrong with this rig with a very low price tag.
